“They do.” Harley chuckled. “But it’s hard to know where to start when we don’t know what we’ll have to face.”
“Plus, I told you not to,” I reminded her. “If Erebus finds out you’re messing with his plans—well, you know. Doom, gloom, fire, and brimstone.”
Harley lowered her gaze. “I just want to be useful.”
“You are useful. But we need to be careful.” I softened my tone. She meant well, and I wanted more than anything to give her hope. I almost told her about Lux, just to reassure her that I had some cosmic brawn on my side, but the words wouldn’t come. I didn’t know if that cosmic help might disappear if I mentioned it to anyone… or if it even was help. She’d promised me security, but I had no clue how far that might extend if my tongue flapped. Either way, I knew my previous encounter with Lux wouldn’t be the last.
“This would be so much simpler if Erebus just told you more.” Harley sighed, absently leafing through the top book. “Doesn’t he realize information is helpful? What’s his issue with giving you details? It’s not as if you’ve proved to be untrustworthy. In fact, right now I imagine you’re all he’s got, since he’s essentially djinn-less.”
“That’s just made him shorten the puppet strings, as far as I can tell.” I sighed. I envied the djinn their newfound liberation. They’d had the balls to separate from Erebus’s power, and it paid off for them with freedom and a new home.
“Do you think he knows what the next steps are? What if he’s as stumped as we are? What if he’s relying on you, Finch, to find answers he can’t?” Wade folded his arms across his chest.
I groaned. “Let’s hope not.”
Just then, the door opened. Raffe and Santana came in, with that nasty little serpent slithering along beside its owner.
“Finch? What are you doing here?” Raffe asked, puzzled.
“Am I not allowed to be here?” I replied, eyeing the snake.
“Of course you are; we just didn’t expect to see you. I thought you were at Ryann’s today.” Santana gave a wry smirk. A second later, Slinky darted for my ankles. I may have shrieked. The look of satisfaction on Santana’s face made me want to boot her stupid snake across the room.
I gathered myself. “Does everyone know I was doing research at Ryann’s?”
“Looks like it.” Harley gave a small smile.
“Why, was it supposed to be a secret?” Santana grinned. Her serpent slid over the floor and hid between her feet, peering out at me with glinting eyes. Try to nip me again, and I’ll turn you into haute couture. Its tongue flickered, as if it had heard my thoughts.
“No, I just didn’t realize everyone had read my diary,” I replied.
“Now that I’d like to see. ‘Dear Diary, today I had coffee with my unrequited love. Our fingertips touched when we reached for the same book. I know she felt it, too. I wonder if there’s any hope for us. Maybe, if I keep giving her puppy-dog eyes, she’ll fall head over heels for me.’ Is that about right?” Santana looked amused with herself. Shame she was the only one.
I mustered a sarcastic smile. “It’s more like, ‘Dear Diary, today I had another inane conversation with the forever-irritating Santana. Her snake tried to bite me, so I stole it while she was sleeping, and now I have it locked in a box under my bed. I’m wondering whether to make it into a belt or a wallet. What do you think?’”
“I thought you two were over this.” Raffe sighed like a weary schoolteacher separating a duo of warring children for the thousandth time.
“Over what? This is just how we communicate. It’s a miracle we made it past grunts and smoke signals.” I focused on him, trying to take my mind off the snake. “Anyway, how are the djinn folk? Are they enjoying their new otherworld? I keep wondering if I should just go and live there to escape from Erebus. Do you think they’d accept me?”
Raffe laughed. “I think it’s a djinn-only club.”
“Well, that’s a little exclusionary.” I pretended to pout. “But seriously, how are they? I imagine it’s been a shock to the system.”
“Zalaam has been keeping us updated. His link to them is working again, though it’s weaker than before,” Raffe explained. “Everything is weaker than before, by all accounts. But they seem happy. They’re building things to their tastes, so Tartarus will probably look very different if you ever go back.”
“What, no looming darkness and hidden swarms of Purge beasts?” I shuddered at memories of running the gauntlet to reach Erebus’s perch atop Mount Sisyphus.
“Nope. I think they’re recreating old Arabia, with separate villages for the different kinds of djinn.” Raffe smiled.
I made a humph of approval. “Good for them.” I might’ve envied them, but I admired them, too. Their successful rebellion gave me hope.
“How have you been?” Raffe asked.
Harley jumped in. “Have you thought any more about breaking your deal?”
I cast her a withering look. “What else would I think about? Fairies and rainbows? It’s literally the only thing in my brain.” I picked an invisible speck of dust from my pant leg. “And, right now, the only viable option seems to be Davin. His amulet might be my way out. But that means finding the colossal horseradish and taking it from him.”
I felt like I was going in circles. I’d had this conversation once today with Ryann, and judging by the disapproval on everyone’s faces, I would have to fight this issue once again.
“That’s suicide, or a one-way trip to the infirmary,” Harley piped up.
“So is staying in servitude,” I pointed out. Facing Davin wasn’t anyone’s idea of a good time, but it beat sitting back and doing nothing.
“Wouldn’t it be easier to find the djinn who helped Davin?” Raffe suggested.
I smiled. “Which would also mean finding Davin, to get that information from him. Either way, I need a one-on-one with the British assclown. I’m inclined to snatch his amulet and ask about the djinn, just in case.” I paused, sensing the discomfort in the room. “Look, I know it’s not ideal, but like it or not, Davin is pretty much the only way to break the deal.”
“That’s the sort of fighting spirit I never expect from you humans.” Kadar emerged, taking me by surprise. “How refreshing, not to see you veer toward cowardice.”
I shrugged. “What can I say; the djinn inspired me.”
“As they should.” Kadar grinned, flashing his fangs. “Stealing the amulet for your own purpose will be the only way to discover if you can use it. If not, you can always strip the flesh from Davin’s bones until he gives up the name of the djinn who granted him the amulet. I would be only too glad to assist, should it come to that. I have never tasted British meat before. I imagine it will be quite salty, given its island locale—ready-cured for my delectation and delight.”
“You’ll have to line up behind Nash, though I’m guessing Nash isn’t into human bacon, so maybe he’ll leave it to you.” I tried not to squirm at the idea of Kadar actually devouring human flesh.